Fort Plain, Johnstown, Wells earn home games

May 21, 2013

The Fort Plain Hilltoppers, Johnstown Sir Bills and Wells Indians turned strong season-long performances into home field advantage for the opening round of the Section II and Section VII baseball tournaments.

The Hilltoppers posted an unblemished record against Western Athletic Conference competition and were awarded a first-round bye as the top seed in the Class C tournament.

Phillips enters the tournament with a Section II leading 694 career coaching victories.

The Hilltoppers and Hoosick Falls met earlier this season in the consolation game of the Bo Baker Classic with Hoosick Falls delivering a 13-1 loss to Fort Plain for one of its two losses on the season.

The C bracket also features second-seeded and undefeated Central Hudson Valley League champion Rensselaer; Adirondack League West champion and third-seeded Lake George (15-1 league), Wasaren League co-champs No. 4 Greenwich (12-2 league) and No. 5 Hoosic Valley (12-2) as well as WAC South champion and sixth-seed Duanesburg (12-4).

Canajoharie also qualified for play in the Class C tournament.

The Cougars (10-6 league, 10-6 overall) were given the 11th seed and will play at No. 6 Duanesburg at 4 p.m. today. The winner advances to face the victor between No. 3 Lake George and No. 14 Stillwater.

Broadalbin-Perth compiled a 9-8 overall record, while going 7-7 against Foothills Council competition. The Patriots will open play in the Class B bracket as the ninth seed and will travel to play eighth-seeded Albany Academy of the Colonial Council today at 4 p.m. The winner advances to face top-seeded Chatham (13-1, 14-4) Thursday at Chatham.

The Fonda-Fultonville Braves begin their quest for a Class B championship as the tenth seed and will make the trip to Hudson to play the seventh[seeded Blue Hawks today at 4 p.m. The winner plays No. 2 Saratoga Catholic Central at 4 p.m. Thursday at Veterans Park in Saratoga Springs.

The Amsterdam Rams finished the regular season with a 9-7 record in the Big 10 and 11-8 overall. They will open play in the Class A tournament at 4 p.m. Thursday at No. 2 Queensbury (12-2, 14-5).

St. Johnsville earned the eighth seed in the Class D bracket with a 5-11 record against WAC competition, while going 8-11 overall. The Saints will open play against top-seeded Fort Ann (15-1, 16-2) of the Adirondack League at 4 p.m. Thursday in Fort Ann.